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"j404-10216-10003 | 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 |
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6 - = ,
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(23-88/2-139) Local

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To : Chief, WHD [Mm DATE: November 1} i

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- FROM : Chief of Station, aban / :

SUBJECT: centra.— Administrative
: Cee ed

serene arthur G. VAIVADA
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“1, Attached herewith is a memorendun prepared by the Subject, dated
29 October 1957, calling the attention of Headquarters to the fect that
his assignnent in Habana terminates in June 1958 and setting out his wishes
as to reassignzent thereafter.

2. While Vaivada did not include it in his memcrandum, in recent
conversations with the case officer he has exzressed considerable interest ;
in the possibility of being assigned under unofficial cover to Spain, :
saying that both he and his wife would welcome such an assignment, The
Subject has also said in those conversations that he would not take it
amiss if an opsortunity for reassignment outside of the Central America-
Caribbean area were to becone open to him at any time ordor to June 1958.

3. In the opinion of the Station, Vaivada has done a very good job.
here, having been confronted with and overcome a number of difficult i

problems and situations during his tour of over three years in Habana. i
The Station is happy to reccmmend that his request for reassignment be i
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given every consideration.
( {jam R Palinger?

Attachments:
Memorandum of Reassignment (h copies)

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Distribution:
“if - Washington w/att. |
2 - Piles w/att.
h Novesber 1957 -
JRP/afm

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SECRET

CLASSIFICATION

maine 5I-28A

14-0000

i 4ttle AKA Yoas-
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Havana, Cuba
29 October 1957

SUBJECT: Reassipgnment ~ arthur @. Vaivada-

TO : Headquarters Desk
THROUGH: Chief of Station, Havana, Cuba

1. While at Headquarters in the early part of May 1957, it wae verbally
agreed that I return to Cuba for about one year, security permitting,

2. While ry oserational wrk in Cuba from August 195), until February
1957 was concentrated on commnist targets in the University of Habana, it
should Le pointed out that my dities during that period also involved many
contacts with sutversive op-ositionist elements. Vhen goverrmental persecution
increzsed during February 1957, two of my key agents were lost, one of then
by governnental assassination, so that I was obliged to leave Cuba temporarily
perding clarification of tig security factors involved, During my three
months ’atsence in PEPRIME the local situation deteriorated; and after ny

had lest assets tut had retained the cumlative security hazards of three years
of cultivation and recruitrent efforts. The University was, ad still is,
closed. Our commist penetration efforts are continuously harrassed by
official persecuticn of the target group, | . ;

begin to study the ocssibilities for reassignment about June 1958, or prior
to that date if necessary. As to future assignments, I have no reservations
or special recuests, I an willing and mepared to travel to any area
consistent with my qualifications. Generally speaking, and for otvious
security reasons, I am interested in getting out of the Central Azerica-
Carittean area if >ossible. It may be recalled that I was denied an Argentine
visa in 1953, for purely technical reasons, This situation: may be changed,
and I wuld not be oadosed to a tour in argentina, Chile, or any of the South
American republics. In this matter, the nature of the new m@oject or
assignment would take precedence with me over personal preferences as to
particular area of assignment, ; . oo

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14-0000

Reassignment - Arti G. Vaivada
29 October 1957, Pare 2

cover (Pan American Foundation Scholarship), and aa it becane increasingly
more difficult to raintain owing to student disturbances, I completed a
course in the writing of free-lance fiction and am thrice published. This
writing has been used as a realistic, s ap cover, even after I was a :
provided with a notional business cover (rebiic Surveys Institute) cy Head- i:
Quarters, I understand that Journalism is considered a weak end time-vorn i;
cover; yet 1f it is worled at, and financially managed through a PEPRIME . Le, ;
. checking account, it not only satisfies local SS probes bat it does not have — ~ H
| the inherent disadvantages involved in setting up a full-fledged business
; cover, I set this out as a possible suggestion to Headcuarters, but have
no insistence as to Journalistic over business cover. The notional fs
business cover provided me has Proved satisfactory in a limited sense thus ; ae
far, rnd even utilized as cover for action occasionally, mt I would be : :
uncertain about introducing it in a less "Americanized country than Cuba, ;

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he Regarding my cover status: I entered Cuba in 1954 under student : i
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